Is the GOP Out of Touch?

With only hours left in the 2014 elections, Republicans are still unable to frame or even address the issues of greatest concern to their constituents. Just last week, in anticipation of a likely GOP win of the Senate (in spite of their best efforts to stay a minority party), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) was a guest on National Public Radio discussing the policy goals of his party if they are successful in November. What I heard reminds me how the GOP became a minority party and how it appears poised to remain that way in the foreseeable future.

In the interview, Barrasso took typical Republican positions on immigration, minimum wage, and taxes and defended those views from a “pro-business” perspective.

On immigration, Barrasso argued that the GOP was opposed to amnesty because a majority of his members felt it wasn’t good for the economy in general and most of their constituents have vocalized opposition. Meanwhile, he had a great opportunity to discuss the fact that those hardest hit by unemployment — including minorities, the low skilled, and young people — are already having a difficult time competing for jobs without allowing untold numbers of…(read more)